Sydney Levy

Jewish Voice for Peace

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/charles/aw060707sydneylevy.mp3]

International human rights activist Sydney Levy of Jewish Voice for Peace discusses the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War, his quest for peace in Palestine and his belief that there is a possible solution within reach, how a change in U.S. policy would be helpful, the march in DC this Sunday and Monday and how to fight the influence of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee.

MP3 here. (16:22)

Sydney has worked in nonprofits for almost 15 years in a professional capacity, and specifically in human rights work for 10, focusing on the rights of sexual minorities, people with HIV/AIDS, immigrants, and refugees. He has also organized community participation demanding diversity of ownership and content in the media. Sydney has gained valuable experience in corporate accountability campaigns with companies such as Comcast and AT&T.

Born in Venezuela to immigrants from Egypt, Sydney speaks Spanish and Hebrew, dabbles in French, and enjoys reading secular Ladino literature. He lived in Jerusalem for seven years, where he got his Masters degree in Jewish History from the Hebrew University.

Gareth Porter

Dick Cheney, Osama bin Laden Want US War on Iran

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_06_08_porter.mp3]

Gareth Porter, historian and journalist for IPS News, explains the confluence of interests between Osama bin Laden and Dick Cheney, who both want a U.S. war against Iran, the false accusations against that country which would supposedly justify an aggressive war (such as the lie that they are buddies with Osama and that they are supplying the bombs killing Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan), the likelihood that Cheney would use nuclear weapons as 9 out of 10 Republican presidential candidates called for in the third debate in New Hampshire.

MP3 here. (45:00)

Gareth Porter is a historian and journalist for InterPress Service. His latest book is Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam (University of California Press).

John V. Walsh

Left, Right and Prospects for Peace

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_06_08_walsh.mp3]

John V. Walsh, Professor of physiology at UMass and regular contributor to Counterpunch, discusses the left and right, the Democrats and Republicans, realignment against the empire, the push for an invasion of the Sudan and that time Bill Clinton bombed their antibiotics factory – sentencing untold numbers of people to death from easily curable diseases.

MP3 here. (45:15)

John Walsh, a frequent contributor to CounterPunch.com and Antiwar.com, is a member of the Green Rainbow Party of MA. He is also a member of Physicians for a National Health Program. Some years ago he ran for U.S. Congress and won the endorsement of the Boston Globe.

Bizarre Article of the Day

On June 10-11, United for Peace and Justice is taking part in a rally in DC urging an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. You can read all about the rally here.

Now, have a look at this article from ynet, and keep in mind, they’re talking about the same rally. Classy take, right? I especially like the cropped AP stock photo with swastikas prominently displayed in the background.

Elsie DeLaere

Nation Building and Salt Pit Dungeons

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_06_06_delaere.mp3]

Elsie DeLaere from Amnesty International describes the humanitarian catastrophe [.pdf] in Afghanistan, the salt pit dungeon and other secret prisons, torture, executions, famine, air strikes, the reemergence of the Taliban, the emergence of the “United National Front” in opposition to Hamid Karzai’s “presidency,” the plight of women and children, widespread corruption, the degree to which locals favor the U.S. occupation or don’t.

MP3 here. (36:38)

Elsie DeLaere has traveled to Afghanistan multiple times to instruct new teachers and represents Amnesty International.